Mechanism for aperturing cartons



F. x. MALocsAY 2,161,877

MECHANISM FOR APERTURING CARTONS Filed Nov. l0, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet lORNEY June 13, 1939.

June 13, 1939. F. x. MALocsAY MECHANISM FOR APERTURING CARTON S 7Sheets-Shea?I Filed Nov. l0, 1938 y. M I` .Y z E mw F V ms j V.l 4 a fJune '13, 1939- F. x. MALocsAY 1' MECHANISM FOR APERTURING vCARTONS '7Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. l0, 1958 June 13, 1939- F. x. MALocsAYMECHANISM FOR APERTURINCT CARTONS Filed Nov. 10, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4if f7 f77?? I INVENTOR @awa/.YX /uoc sw y BY`V A ORNEY June 13, 1939. F,X. MALOCSAY 2,161,877

MECHANISM FOR APERTURING lCAR'IONS Filed Nov. l0, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR Iwm/a/s/Y/Vzafsy TORNEY June 13, 1939. F. x. MALocsAY MECHANISMFOR APERTURING CARTONS June 13, 1939. F. x. MALocsAY MECHANISM FORAFERTURING CARTONS Filed Nov. 1o, 1958 7 sheets-sheet 7 Patented June13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 26 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for producing one or moreapertures in card-board boxes, cartons or the like, and has for one ofits objects the provision of means by which a box or .5 carton may bespeedily and accurately formed with one or more apertures inone of itswalls without requiring the removal of the contents from the box orcarton, and if the carton is 10 or opening of the carton.

At the present time, various State laws require the application of a taxstamp toV a package of cigarettes when the same is sold Within thatparticular State. Since these stamps are applied by ;15v jobbers,dealers or others located in the particular states Where the stampafxment requirement exists, considerable labor cost is involved as the'cigarette manufacturers supply the cigarette 'packages in sealedcartons containing ten or more packages. These cartons have to beopened, `the-packages removed from the carton, the stamps applied to thepackages, and the stamped packages then repacked in the cartons, andthe'cartons re-sealed.

In my Patent No. 2,139,701, dated September 1'3, 1938, I show a cartonfor containing a number of cigarette packages, the carton there shownbeing provided with a series of apertures in one vof its walls throughwhich portions of the ends vof the cigarette packages are exposed sothat the tax stamps may be applied to the ends of the packages withoutrequiring the removal of the packages from the carton. In the structureof that patent the openings or apertures shown are formed or produced inthe carton either during the manufacture of the carton or thereafter,.but in each case, before the contents are placed in the carton. Inother words, the placement `of the apertures in the carton occurs beforethe carton is lled with the cigarette packages.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means by which oneor more apertures may be speedily and simultaneously produced in Yone ofthe walls of a filled and sealed carton Without disturbing or damagingthe contents of the carton or requiring the opening of the carton. Thatis to say, with the present invention, the cartons as manufactured andfilled, are of conventional imperforate construction; they are filledand sealed in the usual Way by the cigarette manufacturer and shipped byhim to jobbers, dealers or others in the States where the stamprequirement exists, and the jobbers, dealers or others, through the useof the improved apparatus herein described, can speedily perforatesealed, without requiring the'breaking of the seal jthe cartons andapply the stamps tothe cigarette packages therein'throughthe openingsso'formed, without unsealing the cartons or opening them, or removingthecontentsthereof. After thecartons are perforatechthe applicationofithestamps ytothe cigarette packages is Vspeedily performed at a minimumlabor cost.

The primary object o'f the'invention therefore consists in the provisionof :an apparatus of the character mentioned; which apparatus vmay beprovided, if desired, with `means for automatically feedingthe cartonsto cutting elements and vthen moving the perforatedcartons awayfrom thecutting means; whichmay also be' provided if desired, with means forreversing the positions of 'the perforated cartons to place theperforated walls thereof uppermost to Athereby conveniently positionthel cartons for eitherthe manual or mechanicalaflixment'of the stamps;which maybe provided if desired with manuatcartonefeedin'g i20 means,and which, -if desired, maybe applied to a decalcomania-applyingmachine' such a-'sis disclosed in my Patent No. 2,117,618,-datedv1\7l.`a.y

In the accompanying drawings,` wherein several embodiments oftheinvention' are disclosed, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machineconstructed `in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2is v'ag-plan viewof the same, with-certain of the parts'broken away-to discloseconstruction; Fig. 3 is a side ele- Vation of themachin'e, looking atthe side `opposite to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of themachineV similar to 'that of Fig. 3, showing the parts in the positionwhere the aperturing of a carton has been performed and the carton 35 isready to be Yoverturned to a position Where the cut-out wall portion isdisposed uppermost; Fig. 5 shows the machine in the position whereoverturning of the carton is ready to begin; Fig. `6 shows the machine'in the po'siti'on'wher the =4'0 apertured carton has been turned overand `placed in position in the delivery row; Fig". '7 shows the machinein' the position where the 'parts' are returning to the initial startingpoint;

Fig. 8 is a side view'of the machine, modiedby 45 the elimination of thecartoneoverturning mechanism so that the apertured vcartonsare yplacedin the delivery row in the'same position as they occupy when moved overthe cutting mechanism; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line9-9 of Fig.250 8, looking in the direction'of the arrows; Fig. 10 is a frontelevation of the machine; Fig. 11 is a sectional View on the line II-IIof Fig. 2, looking in the 'direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 is a vViewof ia part of the machine, with parts in sec- '55 tion, indicating howthe same may be attached or connected to a decalcomania-applying machinesuch as shown in my Patent No. 2,117,618; Fig. 13 is a sectional Viewthrough the cutting table, showing the rotary cutters and the piercingblades; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are sectional views through the cuttingmechanism showing the successive steps in forming'an aperture bysevering a section from a wall of the carton; Fig. 1'1 is a sectionalview showing a modification of the piercing blades; Fig. 18 is a sideelevation oi a modified structure, wherein the cartons are manually fedto the cutting mechanism; and Fig. 19V is a perspective view of acartonV in which the apertures have been formed.

In Fig. 19 is shown a carton asit appears after.

having passed through the machine. The iive apertures, indicated at I,are preferably formed in the rear wall 2 of the carton which, asoriginally supplied by the cigarette manufacturer, is imperforate.

dealers, usuallyV contain ten packages 3 of the cigarettes packed in thecarton in superposed rows, the folding cover for the carton beingindicated at 4, and being usually sealed by an adhesive. The iilledcarton thus supplied by the cigarette manufacturer is 'imperforateclosed and sealed and the present invention produces the ve apertures Ishown inY Fig. lg'without requiring the vremoval of the cigarettepackages'from'the carton, without requiring breaking of the carton sealand without damaging the cigarettes or the wrappers in which they arecontained.

Each aperture Iin the carton extends from one end of the wall 2 of thecarton to the other end of thewall and each aperture exposes portions ofthe -ends of two packages so'that`V the five apertures shown exposeparts of the nten packages and the tax stamps may beapplied to theseexposed portions of the packagesfthrough theapertures yI either'by handYor'by'machin/e.Y If a artonof 'different construction contains more orless packages, the number of apertures formed in the c ar- `ton may beincreased or decreased accordingly withoutV requiring 'extensive changesin the machine. Y Y Y Y y With reference to themachine, IIJ and I Iindi- Ycate the side members of tl'ie'machine frame, the

same being connected by front plate I3 and by a `top or table portion I2on which the cartons are supported and'moved tothe cutting mechanism-asV hereinafter explained. Mounted onthe front plate I3 of the frame isan' electric motor I4 having a shaft I5 upon which a pulley I6 ismounted.

:A belt I1 extending over the pulley I6, extends around a pulley I8which normally rotates freely :on "a bushing on clutch shaft I9 vunlesscoupled 'thereto by a clutch mechanism, rwhich will be brieiiydescribed. A clutch operating in some- Vwhat similar manner was employedin the machine of, and is more completely described'in, my prior PatentNo.2,11'1,618jY The operation of the clutch is governed Vby the passageof cartons which have been apertured by the cutting mechanism andwhich,`after having passed the cutting mechanismfare moved in a 'delivery rowalong the face of the table extension |2a. At a desired location, andpreferably near 30 extends upwardly, said lever being secured on SaidThe packed and sealed cartons, as` .supplied by the cigarettemanufacturer to the to the end of a link 34. The other end of link 34 ispivotally attached at 35 to the arm 36 of abellcrank lever, pivoted at38 on the frame and having its other arm 31 engaged by a spring 38 whichextends to the frame and which tends, through its downward pull on arm31, limited by the stop 31a, to elevate the feeler lever 3G for adistance up through the opening 29 unless prevented from doing so by acarton resting upon table extension I2d above the opening 29. The end ofarm 31 carries a stud 49 which is located in a slot in the upper end ofa rod 4I. The lower end of the rod f 4I passes through an opening in apivoted guide member 42 which is pivoted at 43 to the side member II] ofthe frame.

The clutch structure consists of means by which thepulley I8 will becoupled with and drive the shaft I9 as long as the rod II is in alowered position, this occurring while the feeler lever 30 is elevatedthrough opening 29. In other words,

yas long as there are no cartons located overopening 29 to depress lever3l), the carton feeding and upturning mechanism will continue inoperation. The clutch structure includes, among other ele- Vments, theclutch drum r2|, stripping arm 22 pivoted at 23, and upwardlyspring-pressed at 24; the latch member 42, lever d1 and other operativeelements, the structure and operation of said clutch being fullydescribed in my previous Patent No. 2,117,613, and inother priorpatents. It is sufficient to state that the structure is such thatunless the feeler lever 3i! is elevated, the constantly-rotating pulleyISWill remain uncoupled from shaft I9 so that the carton feeding,cartonv upturning, and carton delivery mechanism will remaininoperative. y Y

Secured on the inner end of the clutch shaft AI9 is a pinion 5I) (Fig.1G) which meshes with and drives a gear 5I secured on the shaft 52mounted to rotate in the bearings F13 and 54 on the side frame members IIl and I I. Secured on one end of Y61 of a carton feed-member 68.

The carton feed-member B8 consists of a horizontally disposed plateportion69 supported on the table I2 and reciprocated thereon by means ofsaid shaft 52, on the outside of frame side Il, is' a the mechanismabove described, and 4it also includes a vertically disposed web orplate 10 from which the web portions 61 extend. Plate 10 constitutes aplaten which contacts with each carton and slides it along the table I2to the cutting mechanism. A guide block 1I mounted on bolt 12 is guidedin slot 13 inthe table to direct the carton feed member in itsreciprocating movement, and hold it against thertopy of the table.

The cartons to be apertured are arranged in a .stack above the table I2and by movement of the carton feed member 58 are successively fed fromthe bottom of the stack to the cutting mech- Yanisrn. The stack holderincludes the two,

properly-spaced, channel shaped guide members 14 and 15, cut awayattheir lower ends to permit lateral movement of the lowermost carton bythe feed member 68. Each of the guide members has a laterally extendingange or footv 16 Ysecured vin Fig. l1.

bythe screws 11, through spacer-blocks 1-8, tothe vtable I2.

The cartons |30 in thestack are duringcertain periods `of time,supported by rods 8|. These rods have their upper-ends engagingunder andsupporting Vthe stack while the cartonfeed-member is on its travel to aretracted position inpreparavtion forits next forwardk or-cartonfeedingmovement. 'Ihe carton feed-member |:`8 during Vits retracting movementis shown fin Fig. 5 and the manner in which the stack of cartons issupported at this time by the rods 8| is clearly shown Eachirod 8|f'isguided :for vertical movement through a guideflug 182 on theframe vandthe two'rods'are simultaneously elevatedand lowered at theiproper'tim'ebylmeans of .levers83 pivoted at 84 on the frame, each of these levershaving a 4yoke 85at its free end located y*between the collars .86..and81 on'the rod. V,Each rod8| is elevatedand lowered by oneoftheleversf83and each lever 83carries a oamroller '88 which rides on a cam89 secured on the shaft-52.

VAs the lowermost carton'in the stack-is moved to the :cutters by thecarton feed-member, or to the right as-viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, itismoved under and held down by a resiliently mounted pressureplateindicated at-90 in Fig. 2. VAt each of its ends the plate isattached to an arm 9|, pivoted at 92-to one of the stack guide members14, 15. 4Extending upwardly from the top of the pressure-plate'are pins93 which pass through guide members 94 projecting from the stack guides14 and 15, said pins. being threaded for the reception of the adjustingnuts 95. A coil g spring-96 surrounds each pin 93 4and is interposedCutting mechanism Secured on top of the table-I2 arefve properly spacedpiercing blades 91 shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 13 to 16 inclusive.Each blade is mounted in a complementary recess formed in the table I2and rmly secured in position by means of the screws 98. At its free endVeach blade is formed with a point 99 and its upper face adjacent thepoint is inclined or vbeveled at |00 as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 14.The pointed end portions ofthe blades are elevated above the face of thetable I2 for a distance equal to-the'thickness of the card-board ofwhich the body of the carton is made. As will be noted in Fig. 2, the

blades are preferably but not necessarily of' several different lengthsso that when a carton is moved against their pointed-ends, the pointedends of all the blades do not strike the carton simultaneously. Y

Situated below the piercing blades are spaced rotary cutters whichoperate in the openings |01 in the table I2, these cutters being kheldin properly spaced relationship by means of `the spacing elements |02land |03 and the nuts |10. The cutters and spacing elements are allkeyed cn a shaft |04 rotating at each of its ends in a ball bearing |05secured to the frame. kShaft |04 is driven at relatively high speed fromthe motor I4 by means of the belt |96 extending around the' pulley |01(Fig. 10) secured on the motor shaft |5,vand over the pulley-|08 securedon rthe'cutter` shaft |04.

As'willbe seen ,in Fig. `13, each ofthe piercing bladesisflocatedbetweentwoV of the'cutters ||l| so that .the twogshorter ends a and b(Fig. 19) of each opening in the cartonis formed by the entryand-exit ofone of the blades through the carton, while the longer sides c and d ofeach opening are produced by the action of two of the rotating cutters.

The combined piercing and cutting operation, b y which-'theapertures voropenings are -produced in the wall of the carton, is shown in detail inFigs. 14 to 16 inclusive. VAs a carton at the bottom `ofthe stackisengaged'by the feed member 8 and moved along thetop of the table|2'tothe right, as viewed in-Fig. 3, with the wall ofthe carton tobeapertured resting upon the surface of the table, the vcarton is pushedinto contact with the pointed ends of the piercing blades 91 which enterwithin the carton at one end ofthe Wall 2 of the same, 'or as indicatedata in Fig. 19. To permit theffeed member 68 to pass over the piercingblades 91, the bottom of the feed member is grooved 'as Vindicatedat 10ain Fig. 11. The beveled end |00 of each blade enables the blade to enterinto the carton between the packages therein and the inside face of thewall 2, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 without tearing orV damaging thewrappers on the packages. As these wrappers on the packages are usuallymade of a slippery, transparent material suchras Cellophane, the bladesslide easily past the packages. It will also be noted that when thepackages are fed to the blades,the flaps on the wrappers ofthe packages,indicated at F in Fig. 2 are so disposed that the blades move from thefold of the flap toward the free end thereof so that the blades cannotpossibly enter between the flaps and the Vremainder'of the wrapperand'damage either the flaps or wrapper. 'The blades, entering into thecarton, elevate the packages slightly in a direction away from thewall'to be apertured. Asthe carton continues its movement'in thedirection of the arrow (Figs. 14 to 16) it reaches a point where the tworotary cutters locatedat the sides of the blade, contact with theouter'faoe ,of the wall 2 of the carton and 'form two Vparallel cuts orslits c andd therein (Fig.r 19) extend# ingffrom-the Vendsfof the slitformedat a by the entry of Ytheipiercing blade into the carton. Theblades 91holding the packages raised from the wall ofthe carton thuskeep the packages raised away from the cutters. 'The under side of eachpiercing blade is curved or concaved as indicated at |09 to follow theperipheral curve of the cutters, and this curved under-portion of theblade directs the cut-out portion I of the carton downwardly and' awayfrom the carton, as the carton continues its movement as indicated inFig. 15. As furtherV movement of the carton is continued past thecutting mechanism, the ends of the piercing bladesk finally emerge outof the carton, at-the point'b, (Fig. '19) thus producing the last slitrequired and which connects those formed at c and d by the rotarycutters and frees the cut-out section from the body of the carton, sothat the same falls down as indicated in Fig. 16, into a suitablypositioned receptacle. It will be thus apparent that by the operation ofthe piercing blades, the two c uts or slits a and b are formed atvthefrontand rear ends of the wall to be aperturedyand that theends of'thesetwo slits are connected 4by the longer parallel slits formed at c and dby the spaced rotary cutters so thata'reCtanguIar section is cut out andcompletely removediby each piercing blade anda cooperating pair ofcutters, leaving a window opening I inthe wall of the carton, as clearlyseen in Fig. 19, through which a portion of the end of two packages isexposed.

While five piercing blades and a pair of companion cutters for eachblade are shown, to suit the requirements of present-day cigarettecartons and contents, it will be apparent that this arrangement may bevaried as may be required to suit any reasonable changes in cigarettepacking in the future.V To facilitate the smooth entry of each bladeinto the carton, the top of each blade may be rounded slightly as seenin Figs. 13 and 17, and also, if desired, the longitudinal side edges ofeach blade may be undercut as indicated at ||2 in Fig. 17, with thetoothed edges of the rotary cutters disposed in the undercut recesses so formed, to thus cover these toothed edges and prevent the same fromcontact with the hands of an operator should they be inadvertentlyplaced near the cutters.

Carton-upturning mechanism After an apertured carton has passed thecutting mechanism, it is overturned onto the table extension I 2a. sothat the apertured Wall 2 of the carton is placed uppermost, enablingthe stamps to be easily applied to the packages without requiring manualupturning of the carton. A pair of tumbling arms H3 secured on anoscillating shaft |I4 engages the carton, by impingement against itsapertured wall, and tumble it over so that the apertured wall isuppermost, or to the position shown in Fig. 2. Each end of the shaft II4is rotatably mounted in a bearing H5 rising from the table I2. VShaft H4is rocked by means of a rack I I6 secured to and extending from one sideof the carton feed plate 68 by screws II'I and reciprocated with thefeed plate. A segmental Vpinion I I8, secured on the shaft I I4, isperiodically engaged by the ra'ck at the proper time to oscillate theshaft ||4in synchronism with the feed mechanism. A yoke I I9 forming anextended portion of the hub of pinion H8 holds the tumbling arms in alowered position during the time that the carton feed plate 68 iscontinuing its movement of the carton past the cutting mechanism. Duringthis period, the yoke H9 is engaged by a lug |28 constituting a lateralextension of the rack H6. The lug |20, in engagement with the yoke I I9,is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The manner in which the carton-upturning mechanism operates will beclearly understood by reference to Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive. In Fig. 3the carton is shown passing over the 'cutting mechanism, the same being,at this time, pushed to the right by the feed member 68. The tumblingarms ||3 are in lowered position, the same resting in recesses |2|formed in the top of the table VI 2, and the lug |20 is about to enterinto the yoke I I9 to hold the shaft |`|4 against oscillatory movementand hold the pinion against movement during the time that the toothedportion of the rack is moved away from below the' pinion. In Fig. 4 thecarton has passed the cutting mechanism and has been moved to a positionover the tumbling arms I I3, or in other Words, has reached the limit ofits movement to the right under the impulse of the carton feed member68. Carton feed member 68 now begins to retract or move to the left, asshown in Fig; 5, leaving the apertured carton 80 resting on thek tableI2 directly over the tumbling arms H3; YAs the feed member 68 re- Cartondelivery mechanism When the apertured cartons are upturned in the mannerjustV described, they are delivered onto the table extension |2a andmoved along the same in a delivery row as seen at the right of Figs. 3to '7 and'at the left in Fig. 1. Means is provided for moving eachcarton, as it is upturned, out of the way Vof the next carton to beupturned. Said means includes a pair of delivery arms |25 secured on anoscillating shaft '|26 rotatively mounted in bearings in the side framemembers I0 and I'I. Secured on one end of said shaft is an arm I 2'Iwhich has its end pivotally connected at |28 to one end of a link |29having its opposite end attached at |29a to a pin projecting from thearm 59. When shaft 60 is os'cillated to move the carton feed member 68to the right (Fig. 6) to cause it to force the lowermost carton in thestack to the cutting mecha-V nism, arm 59 being also swung to the right,will swing arm |21 through link connection |29 therewith, in the samedirection, and the delivery arms |25 will contact with the last cartonthat has been upturned Yand push it and the preceding cartons on thedelivery row along the top of the table extension |2a to make room forthe next carton to be deposited in the row in upturned position by thetumbler arms H3. Y

Briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows: Y

To begin operation of the machine, the stack is rst filled with cartons,with the Wall of ea'ch carton to be apertured facing downwardly.

Assuming that current to the motor I 4 has been turned on, the motorwill begin driving the pulley I8 and also begin rotation of the cuttershaft |04. If table extension I2a is cleared of cartonsy and none islocated above feeler lever 30, so that said lever is elevated up throughopening 29, shaft I9 will be at once coupled by the clutch to pulley I8and begin its rotation. Carton-feeding member 68 now begins movementtoward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, moving the lowermost carton in thestack before it toward the piercing blades 97. As the carton is somoved, it passes under the spring-pressure plate which holds it downduring the cutting operation. The pointed ends of the piercing bladesenter the carton and the cutters IBI co-operating therewith, begin theseverance of five sections'of Ythe carton as shown in Fig. 14.Continuance of movement ofthe carton past the piercing blades causes thefive sections I I I- ofthe carton to start downward movement away fromthe carton, as shown in Fig. l5. Finally, the pointed end of eachpiercing blade Vemerges out of the carton as shown in Fig. 16 and thesevered section of the carton descends as there shown. Under the push ofthe carton feed member 68, the now apertured carton continues itsmovement past the piercing blades until it Yreaches a position of restdirectly above the tumbling arms I I3, which are at this time in loweredposition, as shown inFig. 4. At this time also, the lug |20 is locatedin Fig. 12.

the yoke H0 thus holdingshaftV Hagainstshiftingrotative movement. Thecarton. feed-member. 68.has now reachedthe limitof itsfeeding movementand begins. itsl return.. movement.

While this is occurring, thecartonsin. the stack.

arey held in elevated positionby the rods.f.8.| so

thatthe feedmembermaypass under them on its return movement. As thecarton .feeding member moves on its return movement, ther-.ack IISrotates pinion H8. causing shaft. H4 to be rotated to swingthe tumblingarms. upwardly and cause them to upturn the apertured cartonso that its.apertured wall is disposed uppermost. When the feed member reaches itsretracted position, rods 8| are lowered to allow the then lowermostcarton in the stack to descend and .cometo rest on top of the table l2infront of the retracted feed member. Carton feed member now begins itsnext feeding movement and as this takes place,.pusher arms are'moved tocause.

In order to maintain the machine in constant.

operation, it is necessary that the cartons be removed from over theopening 29 to permit rais.- ing movement of feeler lever 30. Thus, ifthe machine should be unattended it will automatically halt the feedingand cutting of cartons as soon as one is located over the opening29.Also, if girls applying the stamps to the cartons issued from themachine work more slowly` than the output of the machine, the machinewill automatically halt whenever the table is full of cartons.

While the apertured cartons may have the stamps manually applied totheir contents while the cartons are on the table extension |2a orelsewhere, the present machine may also be employed in conjunction with,or used `as an attachment for, the decalcomania-applying machine shownin my Patent No. 2,117,618. The manner. in which this can be done isdisclosed in There, the tumbler arms ||3 Yare arranged to upturn theapertured cartons directly on top of a support |65 under which carrierbars |66 and |61 of the decalcomania-applying'machine are moved with anupward, forward, then downward and backward, movement to move the cartonprogressively along from one position of stamp-application to the next,as fully explained in said patent. These carrier bars form a part ofsaid decalcomania-applying machine, and by the combination of thepresent invention with said machine the cartons can be apertured, feddirectly to the decalcomania-applying machine, and the stamps applied bysaid machine.

A modification of the invention is disclosedin Figs. 8 and 9 wherein thecarton-upturning means is omitted and the apertured cartons aredelivered upon the table extension |2a with their apertured walls facingdownwardly. In this structure, means is provided for preventing rearwardmovement or creeping offthe apertured cartons, such means consisting ofbars |15, one of said bars being located at the outer` side of each ofthe stack guides 14 and 1'5. Eachbaris loosely mounted upon two pinsIland |11 and y`is resiliently held against the side of thefstackguideonwhicnit isgmountedyby means, of a coil spring. |18.surroundingthe pin |11 and capable ofhaving its tension adjustedby meansof the adjusting nut 129;. threaded on' the pin. |11. Y The' free vendportions 18|)y of. the bars |15 Vare bent inwardly,.or. ina directiontoward one Vanother so that they are spaced apart for adistance'.slightly less than the length ofi a. carton. A s a carton is mevedbetween. the. two, bars |15 during the cutting. operation, the bars WillSpread apartagainst the'tension of, springs |18 togper mit thev cartonto pass between them AssOOri asthe carton is moved beyond the cutters tothe position shown in, Eig. 8, .the bars |15 will move toward oneanotherunder pressure of the springs |18 to a position lbehind thecarton as indicated at V,l 81| .inllig 9, thus noldingthe carton inplace in the delivery row and, preventing it from mov-- ingv backwardlytoward the cutters.

While I have thusI far described an apparatus inl which the .cartonsftobe ,.apertured. are .fed 130th@ Cllilillmearls mehancally and are there'after delivered by -mechanical means, it will be QbViQusthat .suchmechanical feeding. and delivery ,meansmay be eliminated, in theA casewherea simple carton-aperturing deviceis desired, and the cartonsqfedtothe` cutting means by hand. VSuch a structure is disclosed in 18.AThereisshown a frame |90 having a table portion |31.- enfwllch is.slidably mounted a oarton feedmember |92gwhich may correspond generallyinshape topfeed member l,|58 except that itis manually lreciprocatedY onthe table. A motor |533` isfprovided with a shaft |34 on which a pulley. |95, is attached. `AIV-belt' |96 extends over lpulley ISS. and,connectsngtopulley |91 secured on cutter shaft yl SB, which maybesimilar in all respects .to thecutter` shaft |04 and4 provided with therotary cutters,in thedsarne manner. Table |`9| is provided with piercingblades `|991smilar to those shown atf91. A conveyor beltis.` shown at200 forv carrying away` the apertured cartons.- With thisrrstructure, acarton .ismanually placed .with one of its ends against anupstandingguideplate 204|and4in front ofthe feed. member |92. The. handpf r theoperatonshown in dotted lines in the drawings, rests on top of the`-carton and `on the raisedtop ofthefeedmember. and moves the feedmembergvand carton together toward andv` over the piercingblades. |99andthe .co-operat-.- ing rotary cutters; Asfthe cartonis passedover thecutters, andblades the apertures aregzcut out as explained -with respectto the. structure shown. in Eigs.V lato 16 inclusive. The sectionsoiwaste material out'. out of the Acarton by. the..forma.. tion of theapertures therein, fall downintd chute 202 and into a suitably placedreceptacle. The stroke of the sliding carton feed-member |92. issunicientto move the cartonbeyond theblades.` |99,A and ontoqtheconveyorfs200 .by whlcheit. is carried away-while the `cartonfeed..memberv is manually returned to its initial positionin readinessto move thenext cartontothe. cutters.:

While I have described several embodiments .of the invention it will beobvious that various, modifications may be Vmade without departing; fromthe spirit of the invention. By meanssof., the several structures hereindescribed.. sealed, and lledcartons can be apertured topermitthe,afxment of stamps tothe contentszrwithout.dise,A turbing the contents.Since the packagesfaregnot removed from-the cartonsfor the yaflixment`oi.' the stamps, unduehandling of thepackagesandthe possibility ofdamage to the cigarettesresulting therefromis avoided. '111e consi1merofl the cigarettes is thus assured that the merchandise secured by him isin the same condition as when it was originally packed. VOn the otherhand, the apertures in the packages permit ready examination of thecontents for the purpose of ascertaining that the stamps have beenattached as required by law.

What I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising, a support for aiilled carton containing a plurality of packages, means for piercing thecarton and entering into the interior of the carton, and cutting meansco-operating with the piercing means for cutting out a section of a wallof the carton and detaching said section to form an aperture in the wallwithout damage to the contents of the carton and without requiring theremoval of the contents from the carton.

2. A machine for forming an aperture in a filled carton of packagescomprising, a piercing member for entering into the carton between onewall thereof and the packages contained in the carton, and, cuttingmeans operative from the outside ofthe wall adjacent the piercing memberand co-operating therewithin cutting out and removing a section ofthecarton wall to form a" window aperture therein.

I 3. In amachine for forming an aperture in a wall of afilled carton, apiercing member, means for thrusting the same within the carton at oneend of the'wall and out of the carton at the other end of the wall, andcutting members operative against the outside of the wall along theedges of the piercing member for co-operation with said piercing memberin cutting out and detaching a section of the wall from said wall.

. 4: In lagmachinerfor forming an aperture in a wall ofra lled carton, apiercing member, means for causing said member to be thrust through oneend of -the wall of the carton to enter into the carton and out of thecarton through the opposite end of the wall to thereby form slits in thecarton at its opposite ends, and cutting members operative along thesides of the piercing members for cutting slits across the wall toconnect those formedat the opposite ends of the wall by the piercingmember.

i 5. In a-machine for forming an aperture in a wall of a lled carton, apiercing member, means for causing Ysaid Amember to be thrust throughone endv of the wall of a carton between said wall Vand the cartoncontents and to thereby move the contents away from said wall, saidmeans also causing the end of the piercing member to extend out of theopposite end of the wail" to thereby form slits in the carton wall atthe opposite' ends of said wall,rotary cutters operative along the sidesof the piercing member for cutting slits across the Wall to connectthose formed at'Y the ends of the wall by the piercing member, and meansfor rotating said cutters.V

. r6. `Amachinev Yof the character described com-- prising, a supportfor a filled carton, a plurality of spaced piercing members disposed onsaid sup- 051 portto pierce a carton at spaced points at one piercingmembers, a plurality of cutters adapted to cut spaced slits in thepierced wall of the carton to connect the slits produced therein by thepiercing members and thereby sever sections from said wall of the cartonto leave openings in said wal1,and means for operating the cutters.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a support against which thewall of a carton to be apertured is placed, a plurality of fixedpiercing blades attached to said support, means for moving the cartonover said blades to cause the blades to enter into said carton at oneend of the wall to be apertured and pass out of the opposite end of thewall to thereby form a slit in the carton at each end of the wall, apair of cutting members between which one of the piercing blades is1ocated, means for causing said cutting blades to form a pair ofparallel slits to connect the two slits formed by the piercing blades,and means on said blades for ejecting the portion of the wall of thecarton that is located between the four slits so formed.

8. In a machine of the character described, cutting means for producingan aperture in a wall of a closed and filled carton comprising, iixedand movable cutting elements co-operating in cutting out and ejecting acut-out section from the carton wall, and means for moving the carton yto be cut over said cutting elements whereby the fixed `element willenter the carton Ybetween its contents and the wall to be apertured.Y

9. In a machine of the character described, cutting means' for producingan aperture in a wall of a closed and lled carton comprising, fixed andmovable cutting elements co-operating in cutting out and ejecting acut-out section from the carton wall, means for moving the carton to beapertured ovei said cutting elements whereby the fixed elements'willenter the carton between its contents and the wall to be apertured, themovable cutters being operative along the sides vof the xed cuttingelements.

10. A machine of the character described commembers, means movable oversaid support for moving a filled and closed carton over said cuttingelements whereby said cutting elements cut out sections of the wall ofsaid carton to form spaced window openings therein to expose parts ofthe contents without requiring removal of the contents of the carton orthe opening of the carton, and means for moving the carton after thesame has been apertured to bring its apertured wall uppermost on thesupport.

12. In a machine of the character described, a ilat support, a fixedpiercing blade secured thereon and having a pointed tapered end, a pairof movable cutters disposed so that one of said cutters is at each sideof said blade, and means for `moving said cutters, whereby a closed andfilled carton passing over the blade and cutters will have a section cutout of the wall of the same that is directed toward said blade andcuttersI by the'blade and cutters, and means on the xed blade forejecting the cut-out section of the carton in a direction away from thecarton.

13. A machine of the character described comprising, means forsupporting a stack of closed and filled cartons, a support on which thelowermost carton in the stack rests', a feed member and means forreciprocating the same below the stack to cause the same to engage thelowermost carton therein and move it away from the stack, a plurality ofspaced cutting elements over which the carton is moved by said feedmember to cause apertures to be formed in said cartons without requiringopening of the cartons or the removal of the contents thereof, and meansfor moving the apertured cartons away from the cuttingl elements afterthe cartons have been apertured thereby.

14. A machine of the character described comprising, means forsupporting a stack of closed and lled cartons, a support upon which thelowermost carton in the stack rests, a feed member movable on thesupport, means for moving said feed member below the stack to cause thesame to engage the lowermost carton in the stack and move it away fromthe stack, a plurality of spaced, xed piercing blades mounted on thesupport and having tapered and pointed ends directed toward the cartonthat is moved toward them by the feed member, each of said blades havinga rotary cutting knife operative along each of its edges whereby saidblades and knives co-operatively cut apertures in the cartons withoutrequiring the opening of the cartons or the removal of the contentsthereof, means for rotating the cutting knives, and means for moving theapertured cartons away from the blades and knives after the cartons havebeen apertured thereby.

15. A machine of the character described comprising, means forsupporting a stack of closed and filled cartons, a support upon whichthe lowermost carton in the stack rests, a feed member movable on thesupport, means for moving said feed member below the stack to cause thesame to engage the lowermost carton in the stack and move it away fromthe stack, a plurality of spaced, fixed piercing blades mounted on thesupport and having tapered and pointed ends directed toward the cartonthat is moved toward them by the feed member, each of said blades havinga rotary cutting knife operative along each ci its edges whereby saidblades and knives cooperatively cut apertures in the cartons withoutrequiring the opening of the cartons or the removal of the contentsthereof, means for rotating the cutting knives, means for moving theapertured cartons away from the blades and knives after the cartons havebeen apertured thereby, and means for tumbling the carton to bring itsapertured wall to an upwardly disposed position on the support.

16. A cutting device for cutting out an aperture in the wall of a closedand filled carton cornprising xed and movable cutters over which thecarton is moved to cause said cutters to enter the carton and sever asection from the carton from one end of the wall to the other end anddetach said severed section, without requiring removal of the contentsof the carton, and means for moving the carton during the cuttingoperation.

17. A device for cutting a plurality of spaced window apertures in thewall of' a closed carton containing a plurality of cigarette packagescompletely lling the interior of the carton comprising a blade enteringthe wall at one end thereof and emerging at the other end, and cuttersoperative along the opposite edges of said blade and working on theouter face of the wall for cooperating with the blade in cutting out anddetaching a section of the wall with the packaged contents of the cartonremaining within the carton during the cutting operation.

18. In a machine of the character described, a support, a at bladesecured on the upper surface of the support, said blade having atapered, pointed end whereby a carton moved over the support and overthe blade will be pierced by the blade at the opposite ends of the wallof the carton that rests against the support, and means for cuttingspaced slits through said wall of the carton from one end of said wallto its other end, while the blade is passing through the carton.

19. In a machine of the character described, a support, a flat bladesecured on the upper surface of the support, said blade hav-ing atapered, pointed end raised above the surface of ythe support, whereby acarton moved over the sup-port and over the blade will be pierced by theblade at the opposite ends of the wall of the carton that rests againstthe support, means for cutting spaced slits through said wall of thecarton while the blade is passing through the carton from one end of thewall to the opposite-end, and. means at the underside of the blade forcausing the section of the carton dened by the slits to be ejected frombetween the blade and cutting means.

20. In a machine of the character described, a pair of spaced rotarycutters, a support over said cutters on which wall to be apertureddirected toward the cuttersv whereby said cutters form a pair of spacedparallel slits in said wall extending from one end of the wall to theother and an element fixed on the support between the cutters forforming a pair of slits at the opposite ends of those formed by thecutters and at right angles thereto.

21. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a stackof filled cartons to be apertured, a sliding feed member mounted formovement below the stack to successively feed the lowermost carton inthe stack away from the stack, a plurality of fixed blades and companioncutting elements to which the cartons are successively fed by the feedmember, means for operating said cutting elements to cause the same inco-operation with the blades to sever and detach sections from a wall ofeach carton as each carton is moved over said blades and cuttingelements, means for moving the feed member to and from the cuttingmeans, and means operative from below the stack for supporting thecartons in the stack while the feed member is moving beneath the stack.

22. In a machine of the character described, a supporting surface uponwhich a filled cardboard carton to be apertured is moved, a iiXed blademounted on said surface and spaced above the same for a distance equalto the thickness of the wall of the carton to be apertured, whereby acarton moved over said surface and against the blade will cause saidblade to enter into the carton between the wall of the carton that is incontact with the surface and the carton contents, and cutting means(zo-operating with said blade for cutting out a section of said cartonWall and detaching said section.

23. The method of cutting out an aperture in the wall of a filled andclosed carton comprising, causing a piercing element to enter into thecarton at one end of the wall to be apertured and to pass between theinner face of said wall and the carton contents and then pass out of thecarton at the opposite end of the wall, and slita carton is moved withitsV ting the carton through said wall from the out- Y nect the twoslits formed by the piercing element.

24. The method of cutting'out an aperture in the Wall of a lled andclosed carton containing cigarette packages comprising moving the cartonpast a stationary piercing element to cause said element to form a slitand enter into the carton through said slit at one end of the Wall to beapertured and pass between the cigarette packages and the inner face ofthe Wall and then form a slit and pass out therethrough at the oppositeend of the wall, and slitting the carton through said Wall by slittingelements operating from the outside of the Wall and forming a pair ofslits which connect those formed by the piercing element, and ejectingthe section of the wall defined by the four slits in a direction awa-yfrom the carton.

25. The method of forming an aperture in a closed'and-filled cartoncomprising, inserting a relatively flat member Within the carton betweenthe wall thereof to be apertured and the contents and forming a slit inthe carton by the insertion of said member thereinto, causing the flatmember to emerge from the carton and forming a slit by the emergence ofsaid member, and cutting spaced slits in the Wall of the carton alongthe sides of said member to connect the two slits formed by the entryand emergence of said member. Y n

26. A machine of the character described comprising, a carton supportfor the reception of a iilled and closed carton, a cutting device forforming a, plurality of apertures in one Wall of the body of the cartonlocated on the support While the carton remains lled and closed, tothereby expose portions of the carton contents through the apertures soformed, and carton-feeding means for feeding the carton to the cuttingdevice and moving the carton relatively to the cutting device during theformation of the apertures.`

FRANCIS X. MALOCSAY.

